Chennai: Asserting that India was rapidly on the move, Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee on May 4 said his government would soon improve the infrastructure for all-round development.

"India is rapidly on the move. We will improve our infrastructure in a comprehensive manner soon. This will give a big boost to the growth of our agriculture, industry and services," he said, dedicating to the nation the Rs 80 crore new departure module of the Anna international airport in Chennai.

Though the process was already on, it would gain speed in the years ahead, he said.

Stressing the importance of the civil aviation sector, Vajpayee said it was his government's resolve to create world class air travel infrastructure in the country, keeping pace with developments in the international aviation sector.

"We are taking necessary steps to meet the fast growing needs of air travel in our big cities," he said, referring to the recent Union Cabinet's approval to amend the Airport Authority of India Act, to pave way for the private sector participation in the development of airports of international standards.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, who was slated to participate in the function stayed away from it, obviously because of the presence of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) nominee and Union Minister T R Baalu.

Vajpayee said India had stood the test of time in safety and security in the aviation sector. The services of Indian experts in this field had been sought by the International Civil Aviation Organisation, he said.

Claiming that the country had heralded a connectivity revolution, he said while the national highway development project was rapidly changing the quality and coverage of highway infrastructure, the national 'Rail Vikas Yojana' was aimed at improving the rail infrastructure.

He said the government was determined to complete the 'Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna' to establish road links to over 1.5 lakh villages by 2007.

Civil Aviation Minister Syed Shahnawaz Hussain said during the 10th Five Year Plan, the Airport Authority of India planned to invest Rs 500 crore in Southern region, of which Rs 200 crore would be spent on Tamil Nadu alone.

The airports at Coimbatore, Madurai and Tiruchirappalli would be developed soon, he said.

The Environment Minister T R Baalu said Chennai airport contributed 10 to 12 per cent of the all India average of passenger traffic, compared to five per cent by other airports, which alone emphasised the need for a new international airport in Chennai.

He urged the Tamil Nadu government to acquire land for the extension of runway at Madurai and Coimbatore airports at the earliest.

PTI